Roy Hodgson has called upon England supporters to give Ashley Cole the ‘credit he deserves’ when the left back earns his 100th cap against Brazil on Wednesday.

Fans at Wembley have targeted Cole in the past due to perceptions of his character off the pitch, but Hodgson believes reaching 100 caps for England should be met with respect from the home support.

The 32-year-old will become the seventh player to reach the milestone, joining Billy Wright, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Peter Shilton and David Beckham when he takes to the pitch on Wednesday night.

Respect: Ashley Cole (left) should be credited for his 100 caps for England, says Roy Hodgson

Hodgson told The Times: ‘I judge people on how I find them. Ashley is a very serious footballer and a very nice person to deal with on the footballing front.

‘Unfortunately, the profile players have means they will be judged in other areas. That doesn’t affect me. Hopefully it doesn’t affect him on Wednesday.

'I am expecting people to give him the respect he deserves. If his reputation is this, that or the other, hopefully it will be forgotten on Wednesday.’

The former Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom manager also downplayed the possibility of youngsters Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Zaha ‘burning out’ should they play in this summer’s European Under 21 Championship finals.

He added: ‘Tournaments are played at the end of a football season.

'I don’t understand the question. The Under 21 tournament finishes in the middle of June. I don’t think the Premier League kicks off again until the middle of August. Two months is a long time.'

Solid: The Chelsea left back has been a stalwart in the defences of his club and country

In form: Cole's competition, Leighton Baines, has found goalscoring form for Everton